Feedback on these Vintage Receivers

[nap]

Found the following at a local place today, was looking for any thoughts. Pioneer SX525 ($40), Pioneer TX7100 ($30), and a Lafayette LR3030 ($30). The SX525 has a real nice look to it (blue lights) I was thinking of pick it up. The Lafayette is big, beastly in fact. Feedback appreciated, thanks in advance. Cheers.

[dorokusai]

I've never liked Lafayette gear but they have fans. The Pioneer is the better of the bunch.

[nap]

Found a post on AudioKarma saying the Lafayette was made by Luxman of Japan. Seems to be some discussion on that, I'll keep digging.

[dorokusai]

True. I know that brand was basically a relabeled Luxman in the 1970's...just not sure it was every model and when it stopped.

[cnh]

I agree with doro. Don't know much about the Lafayettes, I do remember them, and remember a lot of guys buying them back in the day. I see that that particular model is a bit of a power house at 100 watts/channel?

Lately, though, I've been researching a lot of the Pioneer SX series and have picked up one of the larger models. Very nice. The SX-525 is an 'early' SX at 17 watts x 2 RMS (enough juice if you have 'efficient' speakers. Here's a Pioneer resource site if you haven't found it yet.

http://www.silverpioneer.netfirms.co..._receivers.htm

Those are 'great' prices if the units are in decent shape!! Don't see a lot of info on the TX-7100? 1973 or so?

cnh

[Joe08867]

The TX7100 is a Tuner not a receiver. The SX525 is super warm but like cnh said you will need efficient speakers for that. Maybe some Klipsch? I love the look of that era equipment. Soothing to the eye not like nowadays.

The Lafayette is coming close to the end for them I believe. I never heard that one but have heard others and they sound good, Technics like without the harshness.

For the price i would get the Pioneer SX and the Lafayette or at least the Pioneer.

[deronb1]

I would buy them all at that price...

[nooshinjohn]

http://www.audiocircuit.com/Home-Aud...ette/LR-3030-A


Looks like a nice piece... grab the Lafayette.

[nap]

Okay, okay you twisted my arm.
I am going back today to buy the two receivers. Not sure about the tuner. Maybe if I buy the tuner, I will donate it to our charity auction at Polkfest, stay tuned.

[mhardy6647]

The Pioneer TX7100 is a pretty good tuner. Good RF performance and probably better-than-average audio quality for a Japanese solid state tuner.
FWIW, you can d/l the service documentation from http://www.kallhovde.com/pioneer/Pio...an%20page.html
I am also sure it's mentioned (again, FWIW) at www.fmtunerinfo.com

Just sayin'...


also FWIW, I think the LR-x0x0 receivers were made by NEC for LRE. They were cosmetically very attractive, and pretty decent functionally as well. The 3030 is near the bottom of that line (the LR-2020 was the entry level as I recall); the LR-9090 and the LR-120 were the big dogs.

[nap]

http://www.audiocircuit.com/Home-Aud...ette/LR-3030-A


Looks like a nice piece... grab the Lafayette.

Went back yesterday. The Lafayette was sold. I was was bummed because I really wanted to give it a listen. I was able to buy the Pioneer's (SX535 & TX7100) and a pair of KLH Model 32's as a package deal. Can't wait to try them out. Probably this weekend sometime.

[styx]

Went back yesterday. The Lafayette was sold. I was was bummed because I really wanted to give it a listen. I was able to buy the Pioneer's (SX535 & TX7100) and a pair of KLH Model 32's as a package deal. Can't wait to try them out. Probably this weekend sometime.

I have a SX-550 (20wpc) running my garage system. Good little receiver with a great tuner. I think you're going to like the SX-535.

[mhardy6647]

The KLH 32 is a surprisingly musical and satisfying little loudspeaker...



-- there is a tweeter hiding behind that fiberglass "pad" :-)

[cnh]

+1, on the 32s. My local used vinyl, CD, tape reseller (who happens to be just down the block) has been running a set of these in his store (on a vintage HK integrated) for who knows how long--he plays everything on them from classic rock, to reggae, to classical and more and they look like they've been through a war but they still sound pretty good.

They're sort of the Timex of vintage bookies--they take a licking and keep on ticking. Should sound nice on one of those vintage Pioneers above!

Enjoy.

Mark H., a question. Why are the tweeters behind the damping material?

Thanks!

cnh

[Joe08867]

Mark H., a question. Why are the tweeters behind the damping material?

Thanks!

cnh

That was a Kloss thing wasn't it? I think he wanted to tame the highs so they limited the tweeter with stuffing material. Or was that another speaker?

[mhardy6647]

That was a Kloss thing wasn't it? I think he wanted to tame the highs so they limited the tweeter with stuffing material. Or was that another speaker?

I reckon so - a handful of pink fiberglass was probably cheaper than the components and wire to build a fixed L-pad :-)

That pair of 32s in my previous post was (of course) a dump find... I couldn't resist a pair of 'real' KLHs, however small. I was shocked by how musical they were. Ol' Henry and his cronies were pretty good at getting good things out of cheap packages (right up to and through his last company, Tivoli Audio).

Since this is the Polk Forum and all, I don't want to go too far off-brand... but for the info of those here who aren't in New England and/or aren't all that familiar with the classic New England school of loudspeaker designers and manufacturers (commencing with Villchur/AR)... the one-stop shop for info on the New England speakers is www.classicspeakerpages.net

[Joe08867]

I reckon so - a handful of pink fiberglass was probably cheaper than the components and wire to build a fixed L-pad :-)

That pair of 32s in my previous post was (of course) a dump find... I couldn't resist a pair of 'real' KLHs, however small. I was shocked by how musical they were. Ol' Henry and his cronies were pretty good at getting good things out of cheap packages (right up to and through his last company, Tivoli Audio).

Since this is the Polk Forum and all, I don't want to go too far off-brand... but for the info of those here who aren't in New England and/or aren't all that familiar with the classic New England school of loudspeaker designers and manufacturers (commencing with Villchur/AR)... the one-stop shop for info on the New England speakers is www.classicspeakerpages.net

I read a review of classic components back in 90-91. I have owned a pair of KLH Model 6 speakers before and should have kept them.

Anyway, The material was fiberglass placed under the protective grill on the tweeter or midrange drivers. It all started with the AR-3's 2-inch midrange driver back around 1961 or 1962. A fiberglass "pad" was fitted under the dome for the 1⅜-inch tweeter and the 2-inch midrange to improve damping within the "cavity" under the domes themselves. In addition, more fiberglass was placed further down in the magnet cavity between the ring magnet and back-plate/pole piece. It was found that the fiberglass under the dome tended to push against the dome, and in some cases the dome would "pop" out of the gap -- especially under high-power input -- thus basically ruining the driver. AR quickly recognized the problem and decided to put fiberglass on the outside of the dome, under the grill, to offset the pressure under the dome. The tweeter, in the absence of a protective outside screen and fiberglass, continued to have the problem, but it became a minor issue once some adjustments were made. It was found that the fiberglass smoothed the measured on-axis response a small amount (perhaps 1-2 dB), so the fiberglass was ever-so-slightly beneficial.

Acoustic Research, Advent and KLH used very similar designs back in the day, especially AR and KLH. So you see this on multiple speakers from both manufacturers.

[Joe08867]

One other thing. The KLH32 is a very similar design to the original Model 6 so enjoy them. They should be pretty efficient speakers for that Pioneer receiver.

[nap]

I reckon so - a handful of pink fiberglass was probably cheaper than the components and wire to build a fixed L-pad :-)

That pair of 32s in my previous post was (of course) a dump find... I couldn't resist a pair of 'real' KLHs, however small. I was shocked by how musical they were. Ol' Henry and his cronies were pretty good at getting good things out of cheap packages (right up to and through his last company, Tivoli Audio).

Since this is the Polk Forum and all, I don't want to go too far off-brand... but for the info of those here who aren't in New England and/or aren't all that familiar with the classic New England school of loudspeaker designers and manufacturers (commencing with Villchur/AR)... the one-stop shop for info on the New England speakers is www.classicspeakerpages.net

Thanks for the link. There's a lot of good info there. Looks like one of those you need to take your time with and go over thoroughly.

[George Grand]

The KLH 32 is not very efficient at all, but still the best items you picked up. You want to eat those tweeters pretty quick all you have to do is try to make it loud with that 20wpc Pioneer amp.

I worked for Lafayette in the early 70's and never heard a word about Luxman.

[leftwinger57]

this has nothing to do w/your choice of recievers but my memeory is haunting me.Did Lafayaette become the Tandy Corp. and now Radio Shack or is my timeline all screwed up.I did have a pair of Criterions100s as my first pair of large speakers.Again I just had to interject some of my recolections.

[mhardy6647]

Nope - Lafayette just went away; in the very early 1980s, I think (I have a 1979 catalog - not sure if there were any after that).

Tandy bought (rescued) Radio Shack and also (briefly) acquired Allied Radio (or at least their consumer catalog business) but were forced to divest due to anti-trust law. There's a history at www.radioshackcatalogs.com (specificically, at http://www.radioshackcatalogs.com/history.html)

Allied's electronics components business is still around: www.alliedelec.com


... well, we've covered some ground in this thread! :-)

[Kenneth Swauger]

Yes, I buy quite a few parts from Allied, they do a nice job.

[mhardy6647]

Allied, Mouser, and DigiKey come in very handy for those of us who like to fiddle around under the hood...

... as does Antique Electronic Supply, www.tubesandmore.com, when under the hood looks sort of like this :-)

[nap]

Who needs pc boards ? One thing I learned early on was that component leads make the best traces.

[Kenneth Swauger]

Looks like a Marantz chassis...8B maybe?

[mhardy6647]

Looks like a Marantz chassis...8B maybe?

That's a big 10-4. I had the privilege of rehabilitating that one for a local enthusiast. One of the best-sounding amplifiers I've heard in my own home - it made my erstwhile Klispch Cornwalls sound like they were actually in the big league in terms of performance. Just a stunningly beautiful amplifier in every respect... I'd love to own one someday.

EDIT: That's a 'before' photo in the previous post - exactly as acquired by the amp's owner. I rebuilt the bias supply, installed high-speed rectifiers in the HV supply, and replaced the Bumblebees with good (not boutique) coupling caps). If the 8B's owner sold the surplus Bumblebees... he probably recouped the cost of the amp! :-)

[dorokusai]

I've had a pair of those but kept them stock.

Mark - I don't see any info on NEC doing LRE but did find some blurbs about a couple companies called Trio and Planet Research. Planet making the earlier LR series while Luxman made the later RCV's. Trio is mentioned as the tube builder of the RCV's. It's also said that Pioneer didn't have anything to do with Lafayette either. This is just stuff I found while looking for other stuff, and thought it might ring a bell or help us find out for good.

[mhardy6647]

I hear you; the 8B is one of those amps which is worth more stock (even if it might be improved by a refresh) - the amp's owner wanted certain things done to it; I gladly did them and felt that the final result was well worth the effort. He was more concerned with using it as a daily driver than what it would be worth on the open market (and I would think it's still worth plenty; it is in like-new condition and includes the seldom-seen tube cage as well).

TRIO was the Japanese and ROW name for the radio/hifi company we know as Kenwood. Many of LRE's vacuum-tube receivers in the 1960s were rebadged TRIO/Kenwood (and pretty nice midlevel hardware, then and now). harmon/kardon also had a product or two named Trio in the same rough time frame, so it can be a little confusing.
http://www.audio-heritage.jp/TRIO-KENWOOD/index.html

Yeah, I've also heard of the Planet Research OEM - don't know much about them, though.

[Kenneth Swauger]

Ah, the 8B is a wonderful sounding amp. I had one driving Tympani IB speakers in the middle '70's. H-K Citation preamp, Sony TT-3000 turntable with a modified Rabco SL-8E arm. I think the phono cartridge was an ADC 25. if the memory cells are still clicking. Might have been a Stanton 681, I had moved away from Shure cartridges at that time. Now I'm back.